Meerut cow slaughter bid foiled, suspect shot in leg during encounter

Two men were arrested in Meerut on Saturday night for allegedly trying to slaughter a cow, police said. One of the accused, Yameen, sustained a gunshot injury to his right leg during an encounter with the Saroorpur police and the SWAT team. The other accused, Pappu, was arrested from the spot, while two suspects escaped through sugarcane fields, police said.

Police recovered a country-made pistol, knives, choppers, and a live cow from the scene. Saroorpur Station Officer Gaurav Singh said the team acted on a tip-off about four men preparing to slaughter a cow tied near the Hindon River bridge. When the team approached, one suspect opened fire, and police returned fire in self-defence, wounding Yameen.

Police said 20 cases are registered against Yameen across Ghaziabad, Hapur, Meerut and Gautam Buddh Nagar, including violations of the Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act. A search is on for the two absconding suspects.